Translated by: Hypersheep325 Edited by: Michyrr Xi Yuanqing and Won Shu-young had already brought the Khorasani into the inner hall, where he was received by Xi Yuanqing and Won Shu-young. After asking him a few questions, the Khorasani was quietly escorted out of the city.
"Wang Chong, you also heard what that Khorasani said. The situation is not good for us!"
After sending off the Khorasani, Gao Xianzhi sat down in front of his desk, his brow tightly furrowed in concern. Everyone had seen just how powerful Abu Muslim was. One of his punches could even contend against the giant ape. Add in two governors of the same level and even more soldiers, and the current state of Talas would not be able to hold out against such a force.
Wang Chong said nothing, but his eyes were also filled with concern.
How could he not know what Gao Xianzhi had said? The Arabs could mobilize far more soldiers than the Tang Dynasty could.
"We only have two choices at the moment. The first option was to immediately withdraw and return to the Great Tang before the Arabs arrived in force. Given the current strength of Dalun Ruozan and the Western Turks, we will find it very difficult to stop them. "
Gao Xianzhi said.
"But if we do this, we will lose the City of Talas. This strategic fortress is at the throat of the Arabs' eastward advance. Once we leave, it will be very difficult to find such a strategic location. Moreover, once we cross the Cong Mountains, we will enter the interior of Anxi. Right now, we have to stop the Arabs at Talas so that nothing changes in the Western Regions, but once the Arabs enter Anxi, it's hard to say if the kingdoms of the Western Regions will still be able to maintain their neutrality. "
Wang Chong shook his head.
How could he not have thought of what Gao Xianzhi said? However, this path simply wasn't feasible. At Talas, the Arabs were currently facing only Arabia, the Western Turks, and the Ouzan. But if they retreated to the Western Regions, the Tang Dynasty would have to face the kingdoms of the Western Regions as well.
At that time, the situation was probably even worse than it was now.
"Sigh, I wanted to discuss it with you, but you've already thought of it. On the way to Talas, you should have seen that the entire Western Regions is in chaos. Talas has not yet been defeated, and I am still here, but the Western Regions are already like this. If we retreat to the Western Regions, the countries will only become more chaotic. They might even be bribed by the Arabs to attack us, just like the Karluks. At that time, we will truly have internal and external troubles. "
"The Tang dynasty has been operating in the Western Regions for more than two hundred years. In the end, it proved that everyone's rule was a failure!"
After saying this, Gao Xianzhi raised his head and let out a long sigh, revealing a deep sense of frustration and disappointment.
He had been operating in the Western Regions for ten-some years and had been hailed as the Anxi War God, but after the Battle of Talas, he had been unable to recruit anyone other than a few mercenaries. Among all the countries, no one was willing to join the war and help the Tang dynasty. On the contrary, once the Tang dynasty retreated to the Western Regions, they might defect to the Arabs. This was truly a failure.
How could someone as proud as Gao Xianzhi endure this?
Wang Chong's lips parted, but he hesitated.
The Tang dynasty was still too soft on the Western Regions. There was a saying that went, 'The Hu fear might, but they do not cherish virtue.' The people of the Central Plains had spent several thousand years to understand this morality. Benevolence and righteousness prevailed in the Central Plains, and it was taken for granted that the people of the Western Regions would be like the Central Plains, benevolent and righteous. This was completely wishful thinking.
In the Western Regions, there was only one law: 'strength is revered'. The countries of the Western Regions only needed to attach themselves to the strongest person. As for 'softness' and 'benevolence', they had no meaning to them.
They were two different civilizations, yet they took it for granted. It would be strange if they could succeed.
But with a war at hand, this was not the time to discuss such matters. Moreover, there were many reasons for the policy of softness in the Western Regions, and Gao Xianzhi could not be completely blamed for it.
"Milord, there is no need to blame yourself. The Tang dynasty has not reached that level, and we may not necessarily lose this war. As for the matter of Anxi, it is not too late to consider it after this war is over. "
Wang Chong comforted him.
"Mm."
Gao Xianzhi nodded, quickly regaining his composure. He had always been calm and composed in front of outsiders, rarely revealing his inner weaknesses, even in front of Cheng Qianli and Feng Changqing. To be able to say these words to Wang Chong, he clearly regarded Wang Chong as a peer, a confidant with whom he could discuss many issues.
Although Cheng Qianli and Feng Changqing were not bad and had their own talents, when it came to the art of war, deployment, martial arts, and strategy … they were still a little lacking. So when Gao Xianzhi talked in front of them, he still held back a little. Only Wang Chong could make Gao Xianzhi treat him so calmly and divulge everything, no matter how big or small.
"The situation truly hasn't reached that stage yet. But for us, Talas is far better than the Western Regions for the decisive battle. Moreover, once we retreat to the Western Regions, the Arabs can take a detour at any time and advance into Longxi or the interior, which is even more disadvantageous to us. No matter what, we cannot leave Talas. "
Gao Xianzhi sternly said.
"Thus, there is only one path left. We must report the situation to the Imperial Court as quickly as possible and request reinforcements. "
Wang Chong nodded. He and Gao Xianzhi shared the same view on this point.
Abu Muslim was the Arab Governor of the East, and he commanded the soldiers of a region, just like the Anxi Protectorate army and the Qixi Protectorate of the Tang Dynasty. But if other governors were added to the mix, the situation would be completely different. Based on what that Khorasani had said, Qutaybah commanded the soldiers of the north, equivalent to Abu Muslim. And there was also Governor Osman of Cairo.
Moreover, the Caliph of Arabia was preparing to send the Mamelukes.
The nature of this battle had completely changed at this moment. The war had officially escalated from a local war to a large-scale frontal battle between armies. The Arabs had gathered at least thirty to forty percent of their soldiers. Just the soldiers of Wang Chong and Gao Xianzhi were far from enough to deal with such a massive force.
"Lord Protector-General and I coincidentally share the same view. But my seniority in the army is too shallow, and I simply cannot persuade the Imperial Court. I fear that I will require Lord Protector-General's cooperation in this matter. "
Wang Chong sternly said.
"Be at ease. I will join you in writing a grievous complaint. This battle is of the utmost importance. Just like that Khorasani said, the Arabs have boundless ambitions. If they can capture Talas, the Arabs will have allies in Ouzan and the Western Turks to the east of the Cong Mountains, and then all the Arab armies will march east. The Tang Dynasty will probably encounter a foe it has not encountered in centuries. "
Gao Xianzhi worriedly said. As an outstanding Great General, Gao Xianzhi had a sharper and more far-sighted vision than many others.
"I am only worried that the ministers of the court have not participated in the battle and simply do not understand the gravity of this battle, nor do they understand what awaits us if we lose this battle. At that time, it will not be as simple as winning the Battle of Talas. When a tiger shows an opening, the pack of wolves will pounce. Moreover, there are also people from King Qi's faction in the court, and they love to scheme and scheme, even more than the safety of the country. Based on their past behavior, I'm afraid that they will definitely think of all kinds of ways to obstruct us from submitting the petition. In addition …
"The Imperial Court currently has no soldiers to use!"
Gao Xianzhi gave a deep sigh.
For the Battle of Talas, he had sent several dozen letters requesting reinforcements from the Imperial Court. In the end, only Wang Chong's Qixi Protectorate, Wushang's cavalry, and the soldiers the Imperial Court had mobilized had arrived with, a total of only sixty thousand soldiers. As for the other sixty thousand soldiers, they had all been hired from the Western Regions by Wang Chong at great expense.
Given his status as Anxi Protector-General and his two months of work, this was all he had gotten. One could easily imagine the situation the Tang Dynasty was in.
Wang Chong fell silent. In a flash, the hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
He naturally understood the problem Gao Xianzhi was talking about, but the Tang Dynasty was not Arabia. They had far too many restraints. The Tang Dynasty had many enemies on its borders, and if the armies of the various countries were added together, they would probably number two to three million. It was already quite impressive that the Tang Dynasty could use this number of soldiers to hold them down.
Not only that, just as Gao Xianzhi had said, King Qi was still a massive obstacle!
It seems like I can't keep him around any longer!
Wang Chong quietly said to himself, a thought suddenly flashing through his mind. If the Tang Dynasty wanted to revive and survive the calamity, King Qi's faction would always be a massive obstacle. For the first time, Wang Chong felt that King Qi was a massive threat. Whether it was for the Central Plains or the Tang Dynasty, King Qi could no longer remain in the Imperial Court.
"Lord Protector-General, be at ease. Even if King Qi's faction obstructs the Imperial Court, I have my own ways to resolve the matter. I just need Lord Protector-General to prepare two letters for me. "
Seeing Gao Xianzhi's curious and inquisitive gaze, Wang Chong did not hide anything.
"The other letter … is for my grandfather."
Gao Xianzhi froze for a moment before understanding dawned on him, and a look of respect appeared on his face. Duke Jiu of the Tang Dynasty was the Prime Minister of the Golden Age, a minister who had once served the emperor. At the same time, he was an important minister who had worked together with the Holy Emperor to forge the glory of the Tang Dynasty. There was no one in the world who did not know of his name.
"If Duke Jiu were to step forward, the situation would truly be different."
Gao Xianzhi said sincerely.
The world had witnessed Duke Jiu's achievements back then. Without his dedicated assistance, the Great Tang would have found it very difficult to achieve the golden age of the world's number one and the world's tributes. Moreover, Duke Jiu's achievements weren't limited to politics and governance. He had also made outstanding contributions to the military.
As a virtuous minister, Duke Jiu had played a major role in the long-term stability of the Tang Dynasty.
More importantly, if not for the Holy Emperor's efforts to salvage the situation and hope that Duke Jiu would continue to assist him in the name of the people, Duke Jiu would have already retired long ago. But even so, Duke Jiu rarely interfered in the affairs of the Four Quarters Embassy. Unless it was an extremely important matter, Duke Jiu would never interfere.
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